Petunia plant named ‘KLEPH20522’

ABSTRACT

A new  Petunia  plant particularly distinguished by being a medium-vigorous plant with a semi-upright habit and having apricot-colored flowers, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Petunia hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEPH20522’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Petunia, botanically known as Petunia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEPH20522’. ‘KLEPH20522’ originated from a cross-pollination conducted in April 2016 in Rott am Inn, Germany between the proprietary female Petunia variety ‘15G24’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male Petunia variety ‘15G31’ (unpatented).

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown in a greenhouse for evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘KLEPH20522’ was selected from the group of plants in April 2017 in Rott am Inn, Germany. In May 2017, ‘KLEPH20522’ was first vegetatively propagated by terminal tip cuttings and tissue culture in Rott am Inn, Germany. ‘KLEPH20522’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via tissue culture and terminal tip cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Latina, Italy.

-   -   1. A medium-vigorous plant with a semi-upright habit; and     -   2. Apricot-colored flowers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Petunia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph of a plant grown outdoors in Stuttgart, Germany in June 2020. The photograph shows the foliage and flowers of a 4-month-old plant grown in a pot. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEPH20522’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Latina, Italy. Data was collected on plants grown 14-weeks from cultivation from potting in a glass greenhouse in Latina, Italy in March 2021. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.         -   Botanical.—Petunia hybrida.         -   Common.—Petunia.         -   Designation.—‘KLEPH20522’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary female Petunia variety             ‘15G24’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—The proprietary male Petunia variety ‘15G31’             (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Vigor.—Medium vigor.         -   Habit.—Semi-upright.         -   Height (from top of soil).—27.0 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—70.0 cm.         -   Propagation.—Terminal tip cuttings and tissue culture.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—About 14 weeks             in the winter under short day conditions, and 7 weeks in the             spring.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—2 to 3 weeks.         -   Root description.—Moderate density, moderate branching,             white roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Average number (basal).—7.         -   Length of basal branches (from the base of the stem to the             tip).—40.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—2.5 cm.         -   Diameter of branches (from midpoint).—0.3 cm.         -   Stem color.—RHS 144A (Yellow-Green).         -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.         -   Texture.—Pubescent. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate along the stem and opposite under the             inflorescence.         -   Length.—4.5 cm.         -   Width.—2.0 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B (Green). Lower             surface: RHS 138A (Green).         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137A (Green). Lower             surface: RHS 137C (Green).         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Arcuate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS N137A (Green). Lower             surface: RHS 137C (Green).         -   Petioles.—Length: 0.3 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm. Color: RHS 138B             (Green). Texture: Pubescent. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Shape.—Irregular oblong.         -   Length.—5.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.6 cm.         -   Color at tight bud.—RHS 145A (Yellow-Green).         -   Texture.—Pubescent. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Continuously flowering             during spring and summer.         -   Inflorescence type.—Sympodial, with monochasial growth.         -   Number of flowers per node.—1.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About 10             days.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flowers.—Arrangement: Composed of 5 petals fused at the             base. Diameter (flower face): 7.0 cm. Depth (total length of             flower): 7.0 cm. Throat/Funnel: Length: 3.7 cm. Diameter (at             opening): 1.0 cm. Texture: Inner surface: Smooth. Outer             surface: Pubescent. Color: Inner surface: RHS 153C             (Yellow-Green). Outer surface: RHS N144D (Yellow-Green).             Petals: Color of petals, mature flower (fully opened): Upper             surface: N163D (Greyed-Orange) is the main color. Lower             surface: RHS 160A (Greyed-Yellow). Apex: Cuspidate. Base:             Fused. Shape: Salverform. Margin: Entire. Strength of             waviness: Medium. Degree of lobation: Medium. Calyx             arrangement: Actinomorphic, composed of 5 sepals fused at             the base. Sepals: Color: Upper surface: RHS 137B (Green).             Lower surface: RHS 137B (Green). Length: About 1.8 cm.             Width: 0.2 cm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire. Texture (both upper and lower surfaces):             Pubescent.         -   Pedicels.—Color: RHS 144A (Yellow-Green). Length: 4.5 cm.             Diameter: 0.15 cm. Texture: Pubescent. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 5. Shape: Needle with oblong head.             Filament: Length: 1.7 cm. Diameter: 0.01 cm. Color: RHS 145C             (Yellow-Green). Anther: Shape: Oblong. Color: RHS 160B             (Greyed-Yellow). Length: 0.3 cm. Diameter: 0.25 cm. Pollen:             Color: RHS 158B (Yellow-White). Amount: Moderate.         -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1. Length: 2.9 cm. Stigma             color: RHS 143A (Green). Style color: RHS 144D             (Yellow-Green). -   Fruit and seed set: No fruit and seed set observed to date. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect     resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEPH20522’ is a distinct variety of Petunia and is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Male Characteristic ‘KLEPH20522’ Parent ‘15G24’ Parent ‘15G31’ Flower color Apricot Yellow Yellow

‘KLEPH20522’ is a distinct variety of Petunia and differences between CASCADIAS ‘Indian Summer’ (patent status unknown) are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety CASCADIAS Characteristic ‘KLEPH20522’ ‘Indian Summer’ Flower size Bigger than CASCADIAS Smaller than ‘Indian Summer’ ‘KLEPH20522’ 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Petunia plant designated ‘KLEPH20522’ as illustrated and described herein. 